Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal rivalry in Grand Slam finals

Click through the gallery for the best snaps of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's rivalry in Grand Slam finals

Click for the best snaps of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam finals

“Probably feels like one of those matches I would like to play over again. Feel like I would probably win it somehow because I should have been up maybe two sets to love or should have been up two sets to one. I don't remember if I was.

“I just had all these chances in multiple moments. The only time when he was really better, in my opinion, was the fifth set.

“Obviously that was good enough to beat me that day. It was a good match. A lot of back and forth.

“The crowd was really into it. Started in the day, finished in the night.

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Roger Federer is just three wins away from a 20th Grand Slam title

“I guess I was a bit disappointed, you know. But Juan Martin did play extremely well.

“He beat Rafa and me back-to-back, so I felt like he deserved it at the end.”

The 28-year-old has been dogged by two major wrist injuries in the intervening period, missing nine consecutive Grand Slams between 2014 and 2016.

And Federer paid Del Potro the highest possible compliment ahead of their latest clash by claiming he could and should have been the best player in the world had it not been for his injuries.

“He's a good guy. I know him well,” Federer added.

“But when he was hurt, clearly I didn't see him for a long time. I was sorry for him because I think he had a legitimate good chance to become world No 1 at that time.

“Him and Davydenko, actually both of them got hurt at the wrong times in their careers.

“Both had a chance to go for world No 1 at that time in 2009, I think it was.

“So I'm really happy for him. It's a good match to look forward to.

“Reminds me clearly of the 2009 final that we had, which was an epic, too.